The Open Source Zone

I agree with some of the reviewers that this book has too many typo errors. Some of the errors are so obvious that they make me wonder whether the book has been proof read before it goes into printing. There are also obvious discrepancies between the code listing and the accompanying explanation. For example, in a few examples, the code listed one thing and the accompanying text just after it refers to something that is not found in the code listing or contradicts the code listing.

The upside about these typos errors is it kept me alert when I come across something that doesn't make sense. It also helped me in my understanding of JSF as I identify and correct the errors.

Nevertheless, it could have been a much better book if it has been professionally proof read and edited.

This book does not compare to "Core Java Server Faces" first edition by Geary and Horstman. The book provides fery few and not very useful code examples. The content is not very organized. Also, it does not address more advanced topics such as displaying very large result sets.

I purchased this book based on my previously great experience with Manning Press books. I've found other books by this publisher to be easy to read and easy to comprehend. They usually give you just enough background information and then details on different aspects of the subject matter. This book just goes on and on and on about background information and implementation details that are of little use to anyone after they configure their first application. It takes too long to get to the meat of writing JSF applications. And once you get to where the meat is supposed to be, most of that has to be downloaded as a 300 page PDF from their web site. Not very useful at all.

If you are looking for good JSF information, I now use the Core book for information and the O'Reilly book for a quick API reference. If you want examples of great Manning Press books, please check out their "Spring In Action" and "JSTL In Action" books. Both are fantastic reads and full of great information.

Sadly, this particular book left a lot to be desired both as an instructional text or as an API reference.

The book is nice in overall but the examples should be better.
Core JSF is better and I recommend that one over this.

I am totally amazed from what a great technology JSF is. I have worked for so many years with Struts - JSF beats it definitely. And this book is quite good at teaching it. I would give it 5 stars for the content if there were no typos. There are swarms of them. I am currently on page 212 and I see them at least every 3 pages. What's bad about these typos is that they are all in important areas - not just misspelt words but messed up names of classes and objects. I am getting tired from them.

But again, the content of the book is great.